Arguments in Favor of Plain Language

There have been several traditional arguments against plain language—plain language is dumbing down, plain language cant be used with technical subjects, plain language oversimplifies, plain language is not precise.

By now, however, the arguments against plain language
have been refuted. This page links to some of the key
articles and other items supporting using plain language.

A landmark article from 1995 supporting plain language
is Joe Kimbles Answering the Critics of Plain Language,
from The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing. We
provide both a synopsis of
the article and a link to the entire document .

In Signs of Intelligible Life,
written in 2000, Lily Whiteman shows us that many major
institutions in this country favor plain language as a
communication style.

In her second article on this subject, also from 2000,
Wanted: Articulate Scientists,
Lily Whiteman describes how more and more scientists are
learning how to reach wider audiences. The article outlines
the benefits you will get if you use a plain style.